Talking Heads, David Byrne and Me…
Our weird take on it was a long way round to rediscovering American folk, but coming at it from a fresh angle and in a more herky-jerky way that suits us. That way of making music, with those rhythms and big ensemble of musicians that make up an Afro-funk band, was a way out of the psychological paranoia and personal torment of the stuff I'd been writing - and feeling - the paranoia of New York in the 70s, my age, my personal stuff, fitting in and not fitting in. I felt I had that pretty bad for a while.
David Byrne on Remain In Light
Remain In Light (1980) signed by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
Talking Heads formed when three of their principals (David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth) met while they were attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the early 1970s. My older brother told me about the band when he saw them open for the Pousette Dart Band in early 1977 in Salem, Massachusetts, an inauspicious and humble start. The Talking Heads were playing songs from their first album ('77) which featured "Psycho Killer", an unlikely radio hit with an equally unappealing subject matter. Fortunately, Talking Heads' career fared considerably better in the ensuing years, and they were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978) signed by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
A great live band, I saw Talking Heads perform many times over the years, including two shows at the Orpheum Theater in Boston in 1980, when they were touring in support of Remain In Light, their recent record and a very influential album. The genesis of the album began In London when John Cale and Brian Eno saw the Talking Heads open for The Ramones in May, 1977. After the show, Eno invited Cale and Byrne back to his flat to listen to some records, including Fela Kuti's afro-beat masterpiece, Afrodisiac (1973). Eno remembered, "I was very excited about this music at the time and they were pretty excited too, which was thrilling, because no one in England was at all interested." Three years later, Brian Eno produced Remain In Light which Byrne described as, “Besides not being all that melodic, the music had something to say that at the time seemed new, transcendent, and maybe even revolutionary, at least for funk rock songs."
For this tour, Talking Heads added some outstanding musicians including Adrian Belew (King Crimson) on guitar, Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic) on keyboards, Busta 'Cherry' Jones (Parliament Funkadelic) on bass, and Nona Hendryx (Labelle) on backing vocals. To begin the Orpheum shows, the original quartet played a couple of Heads songs, then the band swelled to nine members and their poly-rthymic approach created a pulsating wall of sound. It was rock music that you could dance to, and at the center, was a frenetic David Byrne.
Speaking In Tongues (1983) signed by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
Talking Heads officially broke up in 1991 and David Byrne, their charismatic front man, has forged an interesting solo career. He has released eight albums, while collaborating with Latin stars Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco, ballet choreographer Twyla Tharp, avant garde playwright and visionary Robert Wilson, DJ and dance maven Fat Boy Slim, and many others. The breadth and eclecticism reflect Byrne's peripatetic nature, and that doesn't include his art collaborations, from the acclaimed Robert Rauschenberg to the outsider Howard Finster. He is an artistic and music omnivore.
True Stories (1986) signed by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison
The last time I saw David Byrne was at the Knitting Factory in downtown New York City in the late 1990s. The Balenscu String Quartet opened for him. This was not your father's string quartet, as the traditional violin, viola, and cello were augmented by a DJ in the balcony dropping massive beats. The sound was startling and fresh. Then, David Byrne came out with his band and played an invigorating mix of his solo work. For the encore, he had the Balenscu Quartet join him in a resounding version of the Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime." Indeed, 'This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around.' Byrne introduced his final song, with a wry "This is a really old song written by someone else", then launched into a cover of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." The crowd went nuts and the groove was uplifting and infectious. A young, downtown hipster, bearded and tatted, asked me "Who sings this song?" 'Whitney Houston' was my reply. "He's a mad genius" was hipster's response with a big smile. Only David Byrne could marry Whitney Houston’s pure pablum pop with a Romanian string quartet underneath a percolating, poly-rhythmic dance beat. He's just that good. And talented.
After the show, I met with David and he was very gracious as he signed some albums. An extrovert onstage, I found him shy and withdrawn offstage. I could barely elicit a response and I tried every angle, asking him about his humble start opening for Poussette Dart at Salem State, growing up near Baltimore, the Orpheum big band concerts, collaborations with Brian Eno, etc. I got one word responses with a genial, cautious indifference. I guess there are prices to be paid for being the President of Mensa.
Downtown hipster was right. David Byrne is a mad genius.
Sounds From True Stories (1986) signed by David Byrne
Choice David Byrne Cuts (per BKs request)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-liFDbtt5w
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody" Live At The Union Chapel, 2002
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLiERCiJH6A
"Once In A Lifetime" Talking Heads, Dortmund, GER 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25E0ACkA6uo
"Take Me To The River" Talking Heads rock Al Green! Rome 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoqLCFd8oNs
"Once In A Lifetime" Live At The Union Chapel, 2002
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI617dTYwFk
"Asa Branca" with Forro In The Dark, Joe's Pub 2006
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCfC5yVlvj4
"Psycho Killer" with Adrian Belew, 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HldHtBxNK6k
"Naive Melody (This Must Be The Place)" Talking Heads Live 1983
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jelUxJiXH_g
"Life During Wartime" Talking Heads, Dortmund, GER 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmp8BhW-YMQ
"Cross Eyed And Painless" Remain In Light 1980
Bonus cut:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0IuZYu6B_Q
"Eko Ile" Afrodisiac Fela Kuti 1973
